Earlier this morning I received a rather innocuous email from the Green Party asking me to make a political donation. I’m interested in politics, but I don’t belong to any political parties. I cast my ballot based on the issues in that election and whether the local candidate supports the causes that I care about — for me, public transit is a biggie.

So, when the Greens asked me for money, I felt compelled to respond, as their candidate had not impressed me during the last federal byelection.

My email to the Green Party, verbatim:

Hello Green Party,

I appreciate the note, however, I cannot in good conscience donate to your party at this time, following the position your candidate took on public transit in the recent federal byelection in my riding (Toronto-Centre). John Deverell, although very well spoken, did not support expansion or funding of public transit in either Toronto Centre, or the City of Toronto in the election debate that I attended. His position was that Toronto already has transit and other communities are in greater need.

If you would like my vote, let alone a donation, please field a candidate that will enthusiastically work to support their constituents. Toronto has a desperate deficit of public transport infrastructure; I was very disappointed that your party, via your candidate, did not support the obviously “green” alternative to private autos.

Thanks,William

My message to the Greens, or any political parties that may be reading: if you want my vote, then be sure to support public transit 100%. Hint: I like what Olivia Chow has been doing lately at the federal level, with respect to public transit.